Description
Imprint Venture Lab is a venture builder and early-stage investment platform based in Long Beach, California that supports founders in building and scaling consumer-focused and creative product brands, combining capital, strategic support, and operational guidance.
Founded in 2009, the firm blends creative strategy and structured venture funding to help turn early business concepts into established, commercially viable consumer products — with a history of backing brands like Knockaround (sunglasses).
Specific Program / Funding Stage
Pre-Seed / Seed / Early Growth Focus
- Imprint Venture Lab primarily operates as a venture builder and seed-stage backer, engaging with founders during early company formation and scaling phases.
- The model emphasizes brand development, product strategy, and design execution along with initial capital support for consumer, lifestyle, apparel, and socially oriented product ventures.
Unlike cohort-style accelerators, Imprint’s model is venture builder-centric: it often collaborates directly with founders on building ventures “from scratch” or accelerating early traction.
Investment Amount and Percentage Equity (Company-Level)
Investment Amount / Check Size
- Imprint Venture Lab does not publicly disclose fixed check sizes or a standardized investment range. Funding is typically negotiated per venture based on business needs and development scope, consistent with how venture builders operate.
Equity Taken
- Because Imprint Venture Lab functions as a venture builder and early investor rather than a traditional accelerator, equity terms are determined on a deal-by-deal basis and may reflect the contribution of capital + operational support it provides. There is no standard equity percentage published across all deals.
This type of arrangement is common among venture builders: equity ownership corresponds to capital, design/strategy contributions, and ongoing operational involvement rather than a simple fixed percentage for participation.
Equity Structure
- Investments are structured like traditional early-stage venture equity holdings, often involving priced equity or negotiated convertible instruments tied to future rounds — though exact terms vary per venture and are not publicly standardized.
- The firm’s model also includes hands-on creative and strategic services, which can factor into its negotiated ownership position.
Application / Submission Method
How to Engage
- Imprint Venture Lab does not operate a public accelerator application portal with fixed intake cycles. Instead, founders typically engage via direct outreach, introductions, or strategic partnership discussions.
- Because the firm’s footprint is small (LinkedIn lists it as a lean team) and bespoke, engagement often begins with founder conversations, referrals, or curated introductions.
This bespoke approach is typical of venture builders — they often scout for founders or partner with teams directly rather than running an open, cohort-based call for applications.
Process
The engagement process with Imprint Venture Lab typically follows a relationship-driven approach:
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Initial Contact / Outreach: Founders connect through introductions or direct outreach.
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Discovery Conversation: Imprint discusses vision, product concept, and strategic fit.
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Term Negotiation: Equity, capital, and operational contributions are negotiated based on mutual alignment.
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Partnership & Execution: Imprint collaborates on creative and building operations alongside the founding team.
Because this is a bespoke venture builder model, there isn’t a fixed cohort class, demo day, or standardized pitch calendar like an accelerator.
